Krauthammer on Obama's Televised Tax Announcement: He Was Addressing Daily Kos, NYT and MoveOn
Charles Krauthammer on Monday said that when Barack Obama spoke to the nation hours ago to announce a tax extension compromise just reached with Republicans, "It was actually a speech addressed at Daily Kos, the New York Times, and MoveOn."
In Krauthammer's view expressed on Fox's "Special Report," "This was a speech aimed at appeasing the Left which is extremely angry over this" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
BRET BAIER, HOST: Just moments ago, a very senior GOP aide e-mailed saying, "Finally, President Obama is using the bully pulpit. It's about time. Though it's ironic and somewhat amusing that he's having to use it against his own Democrats." So, there you see some of the early reaction to the President's words. Let's bring in our panel for some reaction. Jonah Goldberg, at large editor of National Review Online, A. B. Stoddard, associate editor of The Hill, and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer. Charles, your thoughts?
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Well, I was struck by the tone and by the audience. This is ostensibly a speech to the American people. It was actually a speech addressed at Daily Kos, the New York Times, and MoveOn. This was a speech that was rather partisan. Interestingly, it's about the first agreement and supposedly the first step in a new era of comity in Washington, but it was quite partisan. He attacked the Republican ideas. He said he disagrees with them strongly, but he had to compromise. This was a speech aimed at appeasing the Left which is extremely angry over this, and it laid out the details of the agreement. We came in a few seconds left, a few seconds after it started, but generally when you get a deal like this, he mentions the opposition and the leaders and he thanks them, and he says how wonderful it was entering in these negotiations and reaching the agreement. I didn't hear any of that, which is odd for the first step on a new, a new kind of a tone in Washington.
Is Krauthammer right?
Consider that at Daily Kos, as the details of this compromise package began to surface, they ran a poll asking readers "Deal or No Deal?" 74 percent of respondents said, "Don't make the deal - let all tax cuts expire."
The comments in the subsequent post after Obama's announcement were also quite telling.
As for the New York Times, Paul Krugman on Monday agreed with the Kossacks' sentiments in his column "Let's Not Make a Deal."
And finally, MoveOn.org has prominently displayed at its website a fundraiser to stop the extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
Maybe Charles has a point.
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Comments
Everyone with kids would be
Submitted by Free Stinker on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 9:59pm.
Everyone with kids would be up in arms if the $1,000/child tax credit had gone back to $600 or $400 or whatever it was back in 2002.
No way Obama was going to cede the "people with kids" demographic as lead in to his re-election campaign.
/// Sarah Palin Fan since July 11, 2007 /// خال
The right needs to hold fast
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 10:12pm.
Make him pay for the unemployment funds, and not for 13 months, for 6. Also Obama wants this to be an election issue in 2 yrs, the Right need to remind folks of who signs it!
Also tell Obama to take his 2% and shove it.
And yes, Charles K is right. Obama was chapped that he was required to explain himself!
Dunno about whom
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 10:07pm.
But I wouldn't believe anything he has to say. The helluvit is, even if he did decide to do this, it doesn't change anything that he's done in the past. Not even a little. I don't care if he decided to agree to extend the tax cuts, the guy is an enemy of the United States Constitution.
And that's putting it mildly.
-Jon
So at the eleventh hour Duh
Submitted by Dan Diego on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 10:23pm.
So at the eleventh hour Duh One rides in on his white unicorn to save the day acting like really cares about the town folk. If his inflatable doll Pelousy had held the house he'd be crowing about shared sacrifice while ignoring calls to maintain tax rates and granting lifetime unemployment rights.Humility
Submitted by Kansasgirl on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 10:47pm.
doesn't set well with Obama.
155 weeks?
Submitted by Cactus Kurt on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 10:49pm.
Unemployment benefits = Obamanomics. Congress should be paid $300/week until unemployment is under 8%.paychecks
Submitted by IrateNate on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:46pm.
$300/week? now, that's the best idea I've heard in a long while...
This was a lose/lose position for Obama
Submitted by c5then on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 10:54pm.
If he stuck to his principles and ideology there would have been the largest tax increase in history perpetrated on lower and middle income earners and everyone with children would have been screwed. Obama and the democrats would have taken the blame completely and with no cover and been crucified. Then in January the new Congress, led by the incoming republicans would have ridden to the rescue on their white horses and the political fall-out would have been a disater for the democrats just as the 2012 presidential campaigns were starting to kick off.
Doing it this way, at least he can claim that he is looking out for his constituents even if those EEEEVIIILLL rich folks get a break too.
Hey, democrats...at least you get to have this same old argument again two years from now.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Gee, I dunno
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:11pm.
but this the markings of some kind of distraction, a diversion if you will.
-Jon
If they do this deal then the
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:08pm.
If they do this deal then the GOP has blinked and we need to do some more house cleaning.
Somewhere, deep down, Obama
Submitted by Chris Norman on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:16pm.
Somewhere, deep down, Obama and the Democrats know their policies haven't worked and don't work to improve the economy. They push them because they like to have the power, even if they don't work. On the flip side, Obama and some of the Dems know that Republicans are correct - that to raise taxes on anyone during a deep recession would be a disaster. They had to go along with Republicans in the end, even if they had to act like they were kicking and screaming to save face. They knew if they let the cuts expire the economy would really sag - maybe into a depression. Lower tax rates was never about rewarding rich people or even providing relief to others - it's about letting more money circulate out in the private economy. The Democrats just can't and never will admit this. They're too devoted to class conflict where they think they'll benefit electorally.
I'm with you, Dan
Submitted by ckc1227 on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:22pm.
The Republicans agreed to a 35% death tax with this deal, which is about as disgusting as it gets.
Hey, if you aren't filthy
Submitted by Radical1979 on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:29pm.
Hey, if you aren't filthy rich and able to afford trusts and such why should you be able to give your money or business to your family, friend, or whoever the he11 you want? It really is the property of the government anyway. /sarc off
What really irritates me is that the really rich like Buffet and Gates will still be able to take care of their loved ones, it's preventing people who have accumulated less than 10 million in a business or assets to pass it down, and possibly accumulate more wealth for their families.
Rad,
Submitted by Trix Rabbit on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:56pm.
I would suggest that those who squawk, whine, and kvetch the most about taxes for the rich should be the ones who should have to pay, let's say 80%, of their total earnings.
For example: the filthy George Soros, John Effing Kerry, Michael Moron, those two imbeciles from Ben and Jerry's ice cream, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Maher, Joy Behar, Dingy Harry, Jerry Brown, Alan Grayson, Bawny Fwank, etc.
I could go on and belabor the point, but the only thing this herd of lemmings is good for is milk through the nose humor.
For the MSM: In your pomp and all your glory, you're a poorer man than me. As you lick the boots of death born out of fear.
Ian Anderson "Wind up"
Jon, a distraction and planned diverson from reality
Submitted by Tomorama on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:25pm.
He is arrogant, petulant and certainly NO leader, this was painful to watch and listen to, sorry Oblunder, if you didn't want to do this, borrow a set from Hillary and stick to your guns, but then GITMO is still open, etc, etc, etc and the world hasn't bowed down to ANY of your promised deeds during the election either.
"I'll do it, but I won't like it, blame the Republicans, BUT I WILL take credit if it works".
The above read from his skullprompter complete with uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh after "Superfluous" uh after another.
All the LEFTS anger I still believe is an eloborate ruse and all part of the media to RE-PORTRAY him as some kind of centrist before the 2012 elections start.
Of course that would mean we would have to FORGET the past two years, the media and the nitwit sheep will, WE WON'T.
This could well be more misdirection.
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:49pm.
Pay attention to the Start bill. It sounds like we are giving up defenses for nothing in return which in my humble opinion makes absolutely no sense and can destroy us.
Remember, the pick pocket jostles you and while you're startled robs you.
The Left Will Still Go Ape-Shit, Nevertheless.
Submitted by LibertyAtStake on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:54pm.
And It Shall Be Great Grist.
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
"Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive"
This is a little off subject,
Submitted by killa37 on Tue, 12/07/2010 - 2:11am.
This is a little off subject, but when I turned on my TV this morning, Boy Blunder was just stepping up to the podium to talk about this 'deal'...........of course, I HAD to get over to the TV and turn the sound down, because I can't stand listening to this Kenyan phony......I would rather read what he says, so I don't have to listen to his phony-ass accents and BS and arrogance and lies. But what I caught, before I could hit the 'mute' button, was that he was complaining about the cold weather in South Carolia (???),,,,,,,,,,,,and I was thinking - 'this is called 'global warming', you stupid sonuvabit*h..............and you are the guy trying to push through your 'cap and tax' legislation....................
This dance was scripted months ago
Submitted by donabernathy on Tue, 12/07/2010 - 2:14am.
you now are hearing the fat "lip" lady sing.
roflmao
ok
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 12/07/2010 - 4:08am.
Now, there’s no doubt that the differences between the parties are real and they are profound. Ever since I started running for this office I've said that we should only extend the tax cuts for the middle class. These are the Americans who’ve taken the biggest hit not only from this recession but from nearly a decade of ***costs that have gone up while their paychecks have not***."
Right - Housing. Health Care & Education - those 3 are HEAVILY controlled/regulated by gov't and are out of parity with pay!!!
O just argued why D's are BAD for the economy, lol!!!
This:
"Maybe Charles has a point"
Of course he does - he gets it!!!
Ronald Reagan
As long as we go along with incorrect words, the liberals win
Submitted by brewswane on Tue, 12/07/2010 - 9:23am.
these are not tax cuts, they are tax RATES